Multi-touchscreen module for amusement device

ABSTRACT

An amusement device includes a display screen having a touchscreen. The touchscreen is configured to receive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously. A memory stores a plurality of electronic games for selection and play. A controller is configured to generally simultaneously execute a first game and a second game from the plurality of electronic games. The first game is configured to display at least one first image on a first portion of the display screen, and the second game is configured to display at least one second image on a second portion of the display screen. The first and second games are simultaneously playable

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser.No. 12/940,527, filed on Nov. 5, 2010, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference, and which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/293,429, filed on Jan. 8, 2010,entitled “Multi-Touchscreen Module for Amusement Device.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention relates generally to an amusementdevice, and more particularly, to an amusement device with a touchscreenconfigured to accept, generally simultaneously, a plurality of touchinputs.

Amusement devices having electronic games for computers and touchscreensor other types of amusement devices are generally well known in the art.Amusement devices, such as game machines, which allow a user to selectgames from a video display are well known in the art, such as thosedisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,787 (“Itkis”); 5,575,717 (“Houriet,Jr., et al.”); and 5,743,799 (“Houriet, Jr., et al.”), the entirecontents which are incorporated herein by reference and each of whichshows a touchscreen for making a game selection from a menu of games.Such game machines or amusement devices typically operate upon input ofcurrency (i.e., coin, token, paper money, credit/debit cards or thelike) and are installed in locations such as bars, restaurants,airports, shopping malls, video arcades, casinos or the like. The gamechoices may include card games, sports games, games of skill, games ofchance, action games, trivia games, or the like.

Generally prior art games with touchscreen displays allow for only onetouch input at a time. Thus, prior art devices do not allow forsimultaneous multi-player functionality. Players must alternate turns inorder to compete or play a game cooperatively. Further, many games aredesigned for single players only.

It is therefore desirable to provide an amusement device that isconfigured to enable simultaneous multi-player functionality. It isfurther desirable to provide such a device that is capable of allowingmulti-player functionality using single player games while minimizingthe need to alter programming code.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to anamusement device including a display screen having a touchscreen. Thetouchscreen is configured to receive a plurality of touch inputssimultaneously. A memory stores a plurality of electronic games forselection and play. A controller is configured to generallysimultaneously execute a first game and a second game from the pluralityof electronic games. The first game is configured to display at leastone first image on a first portion of the display screen, and the secondgame is configured to display at least one second image on a secondportion of the display screen. The first and second games aresimultaneously playable.

A further embodiment is directed to an amusement device including adisplay screen having a touchscreen. The touchscreen is configured toreceive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously. A memory stores anelectronic game for selection and play. The game is configured todisplay at least one image. A controller is configured to execute afirst instance of the game for a first player using a first portion ofthe display screen and generally simultaneously execute a secondinstance of the game for a second player using a second portion of thedisplay screen. The first and second instances of the game aresimultaneously playable.

Still further embodiments comprise an amusement device including adisplay screen having a touchscreen. The touchscreen is configured toreceive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously. A memory stores anelectronic game for selection and play. The game is configured todisplay at least one image. A controller is configured to execute anapplication program, which is configured to access a first instance ofthe game for a first player using a first portion of the display screenand generally simultaneously access a second instance of the game for asecond player using a second portion of the display screen. The firstand second instances of the game are simultaneously playable.

Another preferred embodiment is directed to a tournament systemincluding a plurality of tournament games playable by a plurality ofplayers on at least one amusement device. Each of the plurality oftournament games generates a total player score upon completion of play.The player scores is used to determine the tournament winners. The atleast one amusement device includes a display screen having atouchscreen. The touchscreen is configured to receive a plurality oftouch inputs simultaneously. A controller is configured to generallysimultaneously execute a first game and a second game from the pluralityof tournament games. The first game is configured to display at leastone first image on a first portion of the display screen, and the secondgame is configured to display at least one second image on a secondportion of the display screen. The first and second games aresimultaneously playable.

Yet another preferred embodiment is directed to an amusement deviceincluding a display screen having a touchscreen. The touchscreen isconfigured to receive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously. Amemory stores a plurality of electronic games for selection and play. Acontroller is configured to generally simultaneously execute a pluralityof games selected from the plurality of stored electronic games. Each ofthe plurality of executed games is configured to display at least oneimage on a respective portion of the display screen. The plurality ofexecuted games are simultaneously playable.

Another preferred embodiment is directed to an amusement device includesa display screen having a touchscreen. The touchscreen is configured toreceive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously. A memory stores aplurality of electronic games for selection and play. A controller isconfigured to execute an application program, which is configured toaccess a first game from the plurality of electronic games, access ajukebox controller, and generally simultaneously display at least onefirst image from the first game on a first portion of the display screenand display at least one second image representing a jukebox controlinterface on a second portion of the display screen. The jukeboxcontroller is configured to select and play at least one music data set.The first game and the jukebox controller interface are simultaneouslyaccessible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustration, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which arepresently preferred. It should be understood, however, that theinvention is not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an amusement device in accordance witha first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an amusement device in accordance witha second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a screenshot from an amusement device in accordance with athird preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an amusement device network inaccordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a screenshot from an amusement device in accordance with thefourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not limiting. The words “a” and “an”, as used in the claimsand in the corresponding portions of the specification, mean “at leastone.” Further, the terms “coin” or “currency” should not be construed aslimiting and can be used herein to mean all forms of coin and papercurrency from any country as well as proprietary tokens, game cards,credit cards, debit cards, chits, or other representative forms ofcredit and/or payment.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numeralsindicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1A a firstpreferred embodiment of an amusement device 10A. The amusement device10A includes a controller U1 and a memory U2. The controller U1 may be asingle microprocessor, multiple processors, or the like. The memory U2can be any known or suitable memory device such as random access memory(RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash RAM, hard disk, optical disk, orthe like. The amusement device 10A further includes a video display 12Athat is operatively connected to the controller U1. The amusement device10A also includes at least one input component 14A that receives valuein order to establish one or more playable credits. The value receivedmay be at least one of currency, coins, tokens, chits, credits, creditcards/debit cards or the like. Although only one input component 14A isshown, the amusement device 10A may include more than one inputcomponent 14A to give a user an option for payment, for permittingmultiple players, or the like. Preferably, the amusement device 10A ismade operable upon actuation of the input component 14A, for example,the user may only select and play an electronic game once value isreceived at the input component 14A and/or one or more playable creditsare issued to the user. However, free selections may be offered at thediscretion of an operator of the amusement device 10A.

FIG. 1B shows another or second amusement device 10B in accordance witha second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The secondamusement device 10B also includes a controller U1, a memory U2, adisplay 12B, and an input component 14B. Preferably, the video displays12A, 12B are touchscreen video displays configured to accept touchinput. The first amusement device 10A is a free-standing apparatus,whereas the second amusement device 10B is a table-top or counter-topapparatus. However, the amusement devices 10A, 10B may be arranged inany configuration including table mount, wall mount, pole mount, and thelike without departing from the invention.

For convenience, the amusement devices 10A, 10B will be referred tohereinafter simply as “amusement device 10.”

Turning now to the operation of the amusement device 10, the memory U2stores one or more applications or application programs, such aselectronic games, a music or video jukebox program, or the like, and asystem control program. However, the one or more application programsmay also be stored remotely. Preferably, the memory U2 stores aplurality of electronic games that may be selected and played by one ormore players. The controller U1 controls the touchscreen display 12based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory U2 andbased upon inputs from the touchscreen display 12. As used herein, thesystem control program refers to all of the software that functionsoutside of the application program files including an operating system,display control, input control, sound drivers, and the like. Other inputdevices which may be connected to the amusement device 10 include apushbutton(s), a trackball or touchpad, a mouse, a joy-stick, afoot-pedal, a voice recognition system, a keypad or keyboard, and thelike. But, preferably, the input device is the touchscreen display 12.

The amusement device 10 includes an operating mode and a setup mode.When the operating mode is selected, a player or user is selectivelypermitted to access the application programs. When the setup mode isselected, the owner/operator is permitted to make system setupadjustments. To switch from the operating mode to the setup mode, a modeselector pushbutton (hardware not shown) is provided that is typicallyconcealed from the users. The mode selector pushbutton may beimplemented as a hidden software feature, but preferably the modeselector pushbutton is a simple pushbutton that is disposed inside ahousing of the amusement device 10. In the setup mode, theowner/operator may also make adjustments to the game features as will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the controller U1controls the display 12 based upon the system control program retrievedfrom the memory U2 and based upon inputs of the user. The display 12preferably has a “widescreen” aspect ratio. Such ratios may include, forexample, 16:9, 16:10, 1.85:1, 2.35:1, or the like. The touchscreendisplay 12 is also preferably configured to receive a plurality of touchinputs simultaneously, i.e., one or more users may touch the display 12in multiple locations simultaneously and have the data associated witheach of the touches be accepted. The touchscreen display 12 is thereforeof the projected capacitive type, infrared, ultrasonic, or the like forsupporting multi-touch input.

FIG. 2 is a screenshot 200 from an amusement device 10 in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The controller U1is configured to simultaneously or generally simultaneously execute afirst game and a second game from the plurality of electronic gamesstored in the memory U2. By the term “generally simultaneously,” it willbe understood that the controller is configured to execute the firstgame and the second game at the same time, with no humanly perceptibledelay occurring between the execution of the first game and theexecution of the second game. However, one skilled in the art wouldunderstand that a brief humanly perceptible delay may occur between theexecution of the first game and the execution of the second game, aslong as the first and second games may effectively be playedsimultaneously.

The first game is configured to display at least one image 202 on afirst portion 204 of the display screen 12. The second game isconfigured to display at least one image 206 on a second portion 208 ofthe display screen 12. The first and second games are, in oneembodiment, preferably the same game selected from the plurality ofelectronic games, thus permitting multiple users to compete or playcooperatively. Where the first game and second game are the same game,multiple instances of the game will be displayed on the display screen12. However, the first and second games may also be different games,enabling competitive or cooperative play between games. Although twogames are shown in FIG. 2 as being executed and playable simultaneously,any number of games may be executed and playable by the controller U1,dependent mostly upon the size of the display screen 12. It will furtherbe understood by one skilled in the art that the controller may executeat least one additional game generally simultaneously with the first andsecond games, where each additional game is configured to display atleast one image on a respective additional portion of the display screen12.

For example, the first game is playable by the first player 212 a toattain a first score 214 a, and the second game is playable by thesecond player 212 b to attain a second score 214 b. The controller U1may be configured to compare the first score 214 a and the second score214 b to, for example, determine a winner 218 between the first andsecond players 212 a, 212 b. In cooperative play, the controller U1 maybe configured to store one of the first and second scores 214 a, 214 bas a best cooperative score (e.g., lowest score for golf or highestscore for bowling, or the like). Alternatively, the first and secondscores 214 a, 214 b may be summed by the controller U1 and stored as acumulative cooperative score.

The selected game may include a plurality of play scenarios. Thus, wherethe first and second game are the same, the first game may present afirst one of the plurality of play scenarios to the first player 212 a,and the second game may present a second one of the plurality of playscenarios to the second player 212 b. For competitive or cooperativeplay, the first and second games will preferably present the same playscenario to both players 212 a, 212 b. For example, the plurality ofplay scenarios for a game of solitaire are the plurality of possibledeals or “hands” that a player may be presented with. Some hands ofsolitaire inherently cannot be taken to completion, no matter howskilled the player. A competitive game of solitaire, where the firstplayer 212 a receives a completable hand and the second player 212 bdoes not, presents an unfair advantage to the first player 212 a becausethe second player 212 b can never achieve the highest possible scoreachievable by the first player 212 a. Thus, presenting the same hand toboth players 212 a, 212 b levels the playing field.

In one embodiment, the controller U1 is configured to execute anapplication program that is configured to access the first and secondgames from the plurality of electronic games stored in the memory U2.The application program is also configured to simultaneously orgenerally simultaneously display the at least one first image 202 on thefirst portion 204 of the display screen 12 and the at least one secondimage 206 on the second portion 208 of the display screen 12. By theterm “generally simultaneously,” it will be understood that theapplication program is configured to display the first image 202 and thesecond image at the same time, with no humanly perceptible delayoccurring between displaying of the first image and displaying of thesecond image. However, one skilled in the art would understand that abrief humanly perceptible delay may occur between displaying of thefirst image and displaying of the second image, as long as the first andsecond games may effectively be played simultaneously.

The application program may be a software module, or the like, whichoperates as a shell to execute the first and second games. Accordingly,single player games or games that do not support simultaneousmulti-player functionality may be run in the shell for simultaneouscompetitive or cooperative play with minimal or no changes required tothe game code itself.

In order to facilitate competitive or cooperative play, the applicationprogram is configured to retrieve data from at least one of the firstand second games and display the retrieved data on a third portion 210of the display screen 12. The retrieved data may be, for example, playernames 212 a, 212 b, player scores 214 a, 214 b, avatars 216 a, 216 b,time remaining (not shown), or the like. In competitive play, forexample, the application program can use and compare the scores 214 a,214 b retrieved from the first and second games to determine a winner218 among the players. Specifically, the retrieved data may include thefirst score 214 a attained by the first player 212 a of the first gameand the second score 214 b attained by the second player 212 b of thesecond game, and the application program may compare the first andsecond scores 214 a, 214 b to determine a winning score based on theretrieved first and second player scores 214 a, 214 b. Similarly, incooperative play, for example, the application program can use thescores 214 a, 214 b retrieved from the first and second games andcalculate and store a sum of the first and second scores.

Referring to FIG. 3, in another embodiment, the amusement device 10 maybe a part of a tournament system 300 having a plurality of amusementdevices 10. The tournament system 300 includes a plurality of tournamentgames playable by a plurality of players. Each tournament game generatesa total player score upon completion of play. The player scores are usedto determine tournament winners. The tournament games may be stored inthe memory U2 of the amusement device 10, or may be available fordownload or on-line play over a network 320.

Accordingly, two players may simultaneously use the amusement device 10to compete in a tournament. At least one of the first score 214 a andthe second score 214 b may be stored for entry into the tournament,particularly during competitive play between the players. For example,the controller U1 may only accept the score of the winner 218. Incooperative play, the best score between the first and second playersmay be selected and stored by the controller U1 for entry into thetournament as a cooperative score. Alternatively, a sum of the first andsecond scores 214 a, 214 b may be entered into the tournament as acooperative score among the players.

Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to applicationsother than simultaneous execution of games. For example, FIG. 4 is ascreenshot 400 from an amusement device in accordance with anotherpreferred embodiment. An application program executed by the controllerU1 is configured to access a first game from the plurality of gamesstored in memory U2, and access a jukebox controller U3 (as shown inFIG. 3). Alternatively, the jukebox controller U3 may access thecontroller U1 to run the application program. The jukebox controller U3is configured to select and play at least one music data set. A musicdata set preferably includes at least audio data required for playing asong or other audio presentation, and can be an .mp3, .wma, .wav file,or the like. Accordingly, a music data set may also include metadata,i.e., information about the song such as artist, title, album, run time,or the like. A music data set may also be a video file, such as an.mpeg, .wmv, .avi, .mov file, or the like, and thus includes at leastvideo data required for playing a video.

Referring to FIG. 4, as described above, the application programdisplays at least one first image 402 from the first game on a firstportion 404 of the display screen 12. Generally simultaneously, theapplication program displays at least one second image 406 representinga jukebox control interface (for allowing player interaction with thejukebox controller U3) on a second portion 408 of the display screen 12.A player (or players) can thus generally simultaneously apply multipletouch inputs to play a game and select and play music or videos.

The jukebox controller U3 is shown in FIG. 3 as being located remotelyfrom the amusement device 10. Specifically, the jukebox controller U3may be located within a stand-alone jukebox 340 that outputs its ownaudio or video, wherein the amusement device 10 is connected to thejukebox 340 over the network 320 or locally (not shown). The jukeboxcontroller U3 may also be within a server (not shown) that providesaudio or video data to the amusement device 10 to broadcast through theaudio and/or video output components of the amusement device 10.Alternatively, the jukebox controller U3 may also be located at theamusement device 10. It is also contemplated that the controller U1 ofthe amusement device can also function as the jukebox controller U3.

As described above, it is further contemplated that more than one gamemay be simultaneously executed and played along with the jukebox controlinterface. Further, an application program is not necessarily requiredby the controller U1 to perform the simultaneous display of the firstgame and the jukebox control interface. For example, the controller U1may be capable of executing the first game and the jukebox controlsgenerally simultaneously.

The amusement device 10 may also include other functionality andfeatures such as music jukebox, video jukebox, multimedia player,Internet browsing, broadcast media viewing, time based rental mode,non-prize tournaments, prize-based tournaments, head-to-headcompetitions, prize-based lotteries, ticket dispensing, prizedispensing, debit/credit card charging, phone card dispensing, e-mail,photography, placing customer orders, communicating with other amusementdevices, and the like.

The amusement device 10 may also provide for remote or local access foraccounting and/or bookkeeping purposes. The amusement device 10 mayinclude a local connector for uploading to a hand-held or portablecomputer or removable memory for receiving accounting or other data. Theamusement device 10 may include accounting and bookkeeping screensaccessible by an operator through set up screens and/or through passwordprotection.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. An amusement device comprising: (a) a display screen having atouchscreen, the touchscreen being configured to receive a plurality oftouch inputs simultaneously; (b) a memory that stores a plurality ofelectronic games for selection and play; and (c) a controller configuredto generally simultaneously execute a first game and a second game fromthe plurality of electronic games, the first game being configured todisplay at least one first image on a first portion of the displayscreen, and the second game being configured to display at least onesecond image on a second portion of the display screen, the first andsecond games being simultaneously playable.
 2. The amusement device ofclaim 1, wherein the first game and the second game are the same gameselected from the plurality of electronic games.
 3. The amusement deviceof claim 2, wherein the selected game includes a plurality of playscenarios.
 4. The amusement device of claim 3, wherein the first gamepresents a first one of the plurality of play scenarios and the secondgame presents a second one of the plurality of play scenarios.
 5. Theamusement device of claim 3, wherein the first game and the second gamepresent the same play scenario selected from the plurality of playscenarios.
 6. The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the first game isplayable by a first player to attain a first score, and the second gameis playable by a second player to attain a second score.
 7. Theamusement device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured tocompare the first score with the second score.
 8. The amusement deviceof claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determine a winnerbetween the first and second players based on the comparison of thefirst score and the second score.
 9. The amusement device of claim 6,wherein the controller is configured to store one of the first andsecond scores as a cooperative score for the first and second players.10. The amusement device of claim 9, wherein the cooperative score isstored by the controller as part of a tournament, the tournament beingconfigured to accept scores from at least one of the first and secondgames.
 11. The amusement device of claim 6, wherein the controller isconfigured to calculate and store a total sum of the first score and thesecond score as a cooperative score for the first and second players.12. The amusement device of claim 11, wherein the cooperative score isstored by the controller as part of a tournament, the tournament beingconfigured to accept scores from at least one of the first and secondgames.
 13. The amusement device of claim 6, wherein the controller isconfigured to store at least one of the first score and the second scoreas part of a tournament, the tournament being configured to acceptscores from at least one of the first and second games.
 14. Theamusement device of claim 1, wherein the first game and the second gameare different games selected from the plurality of electronic games. 15.The amusement device of claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to execute at least one additional game generallysimultaneously with the first and second games, each at least oneadditional game being configured to display at least one image on arespective additional portion of the display screen.
 16. An amusementdevice comprising: (a) a display screen having a touchscreen, thetouchscreen being configured to receive a plurality of touch inputssimultaneously; (b) a memory that stores an electronic game forselection and play, the game being configured to display at least oneimage; and (c) a controller configured to execute a first instance ofthe game for a first player using a first portion of the display screenand generally simultaneously execute a second instance of the game for asecond player using a second portion of the display screen, the firstand second instances of the game being simultaneously playable.
 17. Theamusement device of claim 16, wherein the game includes a plurality ofplay scenarios.
 18. The amusement device of claim 17, wherein the gameexecuted for the first player presents a first play scenario selectedfrom the plurality of play scenarios, and the game executed for thesecond player presents a second play scenario selected from theplurality of play scenarios.
 19. The amusement device of claim 18,wherein the first and second play scenarios are the same.
 20. Anamusement device comprising: (a) a display screen having a touchscreen,the touchscreen being configured to receive a plurality of touch inputssimultaneously; (b) a memory that stores an electronic game forselection and play, the game being configured to display at least oneimage; and (c) a controller configured to execute an applicationprogram, the application program being configured to access a firstinstance of the game for a first player using a first portion of thedisplay screen and generally simultaneously access a second instance ofthe game for a second player using a second portion of the displayscreen, the first and second instances of the game being simultaneouslyplayable.
 21. The amusement device of claim 20, wherein the gameincludes a plurality of play scenarios.
 22. The amusement device ofclaim 21, wherein the game accessed for the first player presents afirst play scenario selected from the plurality of play scenarios, andthe game accessed for the second player presents a second play scenarioselected from the plurality of play scenarios.
 23. The amusement deviceof claim 22, wherein the first and second play scenarios are the same.24. A tournament system comprising: (a) a plurality of tournament gamesplayable by a plurality of players on at least one amusement device,each of the plurality of tournament games generating a total playerscore upon completion of play, the player scores being used to determinethe tournament winners; and (b) at least one amusement device including:(i) a display screen having a touchscreen, the touchscreen beingconfigured to receive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously, and(ii) a controller configured to generally simultaneously execute a firstgame and a second game from the plurality of tournament games, the firstgame being configured to display at least one first image on a firstportion of the display screen, and the second game being configured todisplay at least one second image on a second portion of the displayscreen, the first and second games being simultaneously playable. 25.The system of claim 24, wherein the first game is playable by a firstplayer to attain a first player score, and the second game is playableby a second player to attain a second player score.
 26. The system ofclaim 25, wherein the controller is configured to determine a winnerbetween the first and second players based on the comparison of thefirst player score and the second player score.
 27. The system of claim25, wherein one of the first and second player scores is accepted as atotal player score for the first and second players cooperatively. 28.The amusement device of claim 25, wherein a sum of the first and secondplayer scores is accepted as a total player score for the first andsecond players cooperatively.
 29. An amusement device comprising: (a) adisplay screen having a touchscreen, the touchscreen being configured toreceive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously; (b) a memory thatstores a plurality of electronic games for selection and play; (c) acontroller configured to generally simultaneously execute a plurality ofgames selected from the plurality of stored electronic games, each ofthe plurality of executed games being configured to display at least oneimage on a respective portion of the display screen, the plurality ofexecuted games being simultaneously playable.
 30. The amusement deviceof claim 29, wherein the plurality of executed games are all the samegame selected from the plurality of stored electronic games.
 31. Anamusement device comprising: (a) a display screen having a touchscreen,the touchscreen being configured to receive a plurality of touch inputssimultaneously; (b) a memory storing a plurality of electronic games forselection and play; (c) a controller configured to execute anapplication program, the application program being configured to: (i)access a first game from the plurality of electronic games, (ii) accessa jukebox controller, the jukebox controller being configured to selectand play at least one music data set, and (iii) generally simultaneouslydisplay at least one first image from the first game on a first portionof the display screen and display at least one second image representinga jukebox control interface on a second portion of the display screen,the first game and the jukebox controller interface being simultaneouslyaccessible.
 32. The amusement device of claim 31, wherein the music dataset includes one of a song and a video.
 33. The amusement device ofclaim 31, wherein the jukebox controller is one of remotely located fromthe amusement device and located at the amusement device.
 34. Theamusement device of claim 31, wherein the application program is furtherconfigured to display at least one image from a respective at least oneadditional game generally simultaneously with the at least one firstimage from the first game and the at least one image representing thejukebox control interface.